The mystery of fake travel papers FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/11/2011

The mystery of fake travel papers

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

07/11/2011
Ping Lacson insists that the travel document he had traveled with to return to the Philippines after a year living the life of a fugitive is authentic, a direct contrast to what the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the government agency that would certainly know whether the papers are authentic or faked.

The DFA had already come out openly to state that Lacson’s travel document was a fake, mainly because the numbered document Lacson claims he had, granted him by a Philippine consulate which neither he, nor the immigration chief in Cebu who had met him and gave him and his arrival special treatment, is still with the DFA, and has not been issued as yet.

The DFA also said it had checked with various Philippine consulates, Macao, Xiamen and Hong Kong and not one had issued the travel documents for Lacson. Moreover, the numbered document Lacson claimed he had, is still with the DFA..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110711com2.html

From trainee suicide bomber to new life in Pakistan focus 07/11/2011

From trainee suicide bomber to new life in Pakistan

focus

07/11/2011
BARIKOT — Young Hazarat Bilal says he feels lucky to be embarking on a new life after escaping the clutches of the Taliban in the pristine surroundings of Pakistan’s Swat valley.

Just over a year ago, he says he fled a Taliban prison in Chuprial, 40 kilometers northwest of Mingora, the district’s main town.

Today, he tells journalists invited to inspect an army program to “de-radicalize” brainwashed youth, his hero is all-round cricketing star Shahid Afridi, and not Osama bin Laden.

The 24-year-old is one of hundreds, potentially thousands of youth who were kidnapped or handed over by their families to train as suicide bombers or Taliban fighters in northwest Pakistan..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110711com3.html

Killjoy C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 07/11/2011

Killjoy

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

07/11/2011
What a killjoy! This is what many of my pro-P-Noy friends exclaimed after being told that the World Bank just declared that the Philippines continues to experience one of the worst cases of poverty in the Asia-Pacific region.

In its Philippine Quarterly Update, the World Bank reported that poverty in urban areas was “worsening rapidly” due to increased population and lower incomes. Coming as it did right after Palace spokesmen trumpeted a March SWS survey advising that the incidence of hunger in the country dropped during the survey period with one million hungry mouths getting off the rolls, this bank advisory immediately doused cold water on an incipient triumphalist run.

Said the World Bank: “Poverty and especially poverty dynamics, in the Philippines remains worse than its neighbors. Spatially, poverty remains highly concentrated in the rural areas and in terms of sectors, households that rely on agricultural income are significantly more likely to be poor than other households... From 2006 to 2009, poverty in urban areas increased more rapidly, became more severe and contributed more to the continuous increase in poverty. Across regions, 10 out of 17 administrative regions experienced an increase in poverty incidence... Despite a more resilient economy, some 2.4 million Filipinos became poor from 2003 to 2006 and 1 million more from 2006 to 2009.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110711com4.html

US observers urge poll code overhaul 07/11/2011

US observers urge poll code overhaul

07/11/2011
The government should overhaul the country’s Omnibus Election Code to develop a single, comprehensive electoral law that fully considers and integrates provisions for automation, US-based observers of the 2010 computerized elections recommended in a recent report on the conduct of the polls last year.

The international election observation mission identified with former US President Jimmy Carter, nevertheless, cited the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and its private partner Smartmatic-Total Information Management Corp. for their “hard work” in conducting the country’s first-ever automated voting last year that was “marked by relatively high public confidence and trust on the use of the optical mark recognition technology.”

This mission led by the Carter Center, which is a global peace and health advocacy nongovernment organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, observed in its 70-page final report on last year’s Philippine elections that “results transmission was generally successful, with Comelec and the technology vendor working in concert to provide necessary assistance to poll workers through written instructions expert assistance, and a national call center.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110711hed2.html

GMA, Uriarte hard to pin down for plunder over PCSO mess By Angie M. Rosales 07/11/2011

SOLON: MOST WOULD BE MALVERSATION OF FUNDS RAPS

GMA, Uriarte hard to pin down for plunder over PCSO mess

By Angie M. Rosales 07/11/2011

Pursuing plunder charges against former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo along with her alleged close associate, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) vice chairman and general manager Rosario Uriarte, will be futile due to lack of evidence despite the supposed exposés on the misuse of funds made by officials appointed by President Aquino in the state lottery agency and the most that can be levelled against both is malversation of public funds.

Sen. Francis Escudero yesterday pointed out the apparent lack of evidence to prove “personal gains” on the part of Arroyo and Uriarte in the use of the charity funds of PCSO, the total of which allegedly amounted to P325 million.

Senate blue ribbon committee chairman Sen.Teofisto Guingona III had raised the possibility of filing plunder charges against Arroyo and Uriarte since the alleged diverted PCSO funds totaled more than P50 million but Escudero said that exceeding the amount does not automatically result in a plunder case..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110711hed1.html

MILF appoints Al-Haq as spokesman By Mario J. Mallari 07/11/2011

MILF appoints Al-Haq as spokesman

By Mario J. Mallari 07/11/2011

The Central Committee of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has named a new military spokesman after the sacking of Eid Kabalu for actively seeking appointment as officer-in-charge of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a statement posted over the MILF official website, the secessionist group announced the appointment of Von Al-Haq as new spokesman of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF).

Al-Haq was the erstwhile chairman of the MILF’s Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) in the ongoing peace negotiations with the government..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110711nat5.html

RP Embassy in US makes representations for Pinoy teachers in Maryland 07/11/2011

RP Embassy in US makes representations for Pinoy teachers in Maryland

07/11/2011
The Philippine Embassy in Washington said it will make representations with the US government to seek better protection for Filipino teachers and hopefully retain the employment of at least 500 of them who may be out of job soon due to a hiring restriction imposed by the state of Maryland.

According to the embassy, teaching jobs for Filipinos may be adversely affected as the Prince George’s County Public School where they work can no longer afford to pay their salaries..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110711nat3.html

Atienza files raps vs Lim, Moreno, 35 others 07/11/2011

Atienza files raps vs Lim, Moreno, 35 others

07/11/2011
Multiple criminal and administrative charges were filed before the Ombudsman against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, two top city executives and 33 councilors for the approval of an ordinance granting tax exemptions to a highly profitable telecommunications company.

The complaints for grave abuse of authority, ignorance of the law, dishonesty and grave misconduct, violation of Republic Act 6713 and 3019, and violation of their oath of office were filed July 4, 2011 by former Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr., barangay chairmen Ricardo Aguinaldo, Jorge Limqueco, Romeo Castro, Benedicto Marcelino, Randolf Sy; former barangay chairmen Villano Osorio, Mariano Ponce, Francisco Blanco and businesswoman Emily Mayie Monzon.

The complainants stressed in their criminal and administrative charges that the granting of franchise and real property tax exemptions to Smart Information Technologies Inc. or Smart through City Ordinance 8229 on April 19, 2011 deprived the city government of multi-million pesos in annual income which could have been used for the delivery of improved basic services to Manileños. They added the ordinance is illegal because it was approved without the required conduct of public hearings as provided for under the Local Government Code..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110711met4.html

Advertising group urged to police own ranks 07/11/2011

Advertising group urged to police own ranks

07/11/2011
Amid the recent controversy involving indecent billboards on Edsa, members of the House of Representatives yesterday urged the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines to police their ranks and remove all offensive and inappropriate billboards.

According to San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the giant billboards featuring scantily clad men and women are a distraction to motorists.

“Too many billboards of men in briefs are an affront to public decency,” Ejercito said.

Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, for his part, said the billboards contribute to the erosion of the country’s moral fiber..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110711met3.html

No chance for changes EDITORIAL 07/10/2011

No chance for changes

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

07/10/2011
The plot seems to unravel on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) controversy after Noynoy revealed his preference not to sell both the PCSO and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) which are both the state-owned gambling operators.

The new officials of PCSO made a show about cleaning up the agency exposing donations from the previous government which in reality have been a longtime practice and these are known to most of the whistle-blowers primarily new PCSO Chairman Margie Juico who was part of the PCSO board when the supposed anomalies occurred.

Amid the revelations of anomalies within the lotto provider, the natural response would be to sell it to the more efficient private hands, along with another cash cow of the powers that be, state casino operator Pagcor..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110710com1.html

Same dogs, different collars FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/10/2011

Same dogs, different collars

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

07/10/2011
Catholic bishops should return the sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to Malacañang and be done with them — and be completely done too, with the Aquino government, which is fast earning the tag of Indian Giver, because no matter that these SUVs were donated by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) under the then Arroyo government, that which were given, admit it or not, were donations from the Philippine government, and not just the Arroyo government.

With the bishops returning these SUVs — probably old and dilapidated by this time — they can now take that firm position that the local institutional Catholic Church will have nothing to do with this government of Noynoy Aquino..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110710com2.html

Egypt’s mass demonstrations target new rulers focus 07/10/2011

Egypt’s mass demonstrations target new rulers

focus

07/10/2011
CAIRO — Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Egypt on Friday to defend the uprising that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, directing their anger at the new military rulers over the slow pace of reform.

In the capital, flag-waving protesters packed Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the protests that ousted Mubarak in February, in a festive atmosphere marked by speeches and songs.

Hundreds of pro-democracy activists were set to spend the night in the square, as security forces maintained a discreet presence on side streets.

At the noon Muslim prayer, Sheikh Mazhar Shahin urged protesters to “keep working to achieve the honorable goals of the revolution which are ‘change, freedom and social justice.’”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110710com3.html

Malawi’s ‘witches’ challenge century-old sorcery law FEATURE 07/10/2011

Malawi’s ‘witches’ challenge century-old sorcery law

FEATURE

07/10/2011
LILONGWE — When Kanthukako Supaunyolo’s grandson woke up in the night with a nosebleed, his parents were enraged by what they saw as a bad omen and a certain product of sorcery.

They accused the 82-year-old grandmother of casting a spell on him, and filed a criminal complaint of witchcraft, landing her in jail under a century-old law now under fire by both non-believers and self-proclaimed witches.

“How could I bewitch my own grandchild. For what?” said the soft-spoken woman.

She and two elderly friends were convicted and sentenced to 33-dollar fines each, a steep sum for women who — like 62 percent of Malawians — live on less than two dollars a day. When they could not pay, they were jailed..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110710com6.html

‘Daan ng mga nagmamatuwid’ TABLETS OF STONE Larry Faraon, OP 07/10/2011

‘Daan ng mga nagmamatuwid’

TABLETS OF STONE

Larry Faraon, OP

07/10/2011
Sen. Panfilo Lacson made a comment at the Senate hearing on the PCSO fund mess, reacting to the Butuan bishop’s “requesting” an SUV as a birthday gift, saying that gifts are supposed to be given and not solicited! That’s ridiculous. Who says that gifts can’t be requested or solicited?

Doting parents in affectionate tones would always ask their children what do the latter want for their birthdays to which the kids would immediately draw out their long list and lay it on their dad’s lap. Mr. Lacson was not born yesterday; he knows for a fact and experience that gifts that please a person are those that fulfill the desires of his heart. And often, they are solicited.

Also, gift-giving and bribe-giving situate themselves into the core of one’s cultural orientation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110710com5.html

CBCP, tillers reject referendum By Charlie V. Manalo and Pat C. Santos 07/10/2011

COJUANGCO-AQUINO CLAN MOVING TO ‘SOW DISUNITY’

CBCP, tillers reject referendum

By Charlie V. Manalo and Pat C. Santos 07/10/2011

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have closed ranks with militant farmers in rejecting the recent Supreme Court (SC) order for the Department of Agrarian Reform to hold a referendum among Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI) farm workers for them to choose between land distribution and staying with the corporate structure on land ownership through the stock distribution option (SDO) of the vast estate the basis of which, called the stock distribution plan (SDP), the Tribunal upheld as illegal.

Farmers groups said the Cojuangco-Aquino clan had given them a preview of the divide and rule tactic to be employed to turn around in their favor the Supreme Court order for a referendum.

The militant peasant groups Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Alyansa ng mga Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) and the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) accused President Aquino and his relatives, the Cojuangcos of Tarlac, for “sowing disunity among farm workers of Hacienda Luisita” saying the divide and rule tactics being employed today are “a portent of things to come” once the Supreme Court-ordered referendum pushes through..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110710hed1.html

Palace cool on bid to make Uriarte witness in PCSO scam By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 07/10/2011

Palace cool on bid to make Uriarte witness in PCSO scam

By Virgilio J. Bugaoisan 07/10/2011

The Aquino administration has rejected a proposal to turn former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Rosario Uriarte into a state witness against her erstwhile boss former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo over supposed anomalies in the use of PCSO funds during Arroyo’s watch.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said on radio it might not be possible at this time for the government, through the Department of Justice, to turn Uriarte into a state witness because apart from the fact that the circumstances behind the alleged anomalies at the PCSO are still being unraveled, she might not also qualify to become one under the guideline set by the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Act (Republic Act 6981).

“It’s premature. It’s too early too tell, ” Valte said in response to the proposal of Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada that Uriarte be turned into a state witness.

Under the Implementing Rules and Regulations RA 6981, any person who has participated in the commission of a crime and desires to be a Witness for the state, can only qualify whenever the following circumstances are present: the offense in which his testimony will be used is a grave felony as defined under the Revised Penal Code or its equivalent under special laws;.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110710hed2.html

Rescue team recovers two bodies in Aroroy cave in By Gina Peralta-Elorde 07/10/2011

Rescue team recovers two bodies in Aroroy cave in

By Gina Peralta-Elorde 07/10/2011

Two miners, both minors were recovered dead in a tunnel of mining firm in Aroroy town, Masbate province last Wednesday night.

Search and rescue teams were able to find the bodies of Nober Deonan and Antonio Reviro both residents of Uson, Masbate.

Arroyo chief of police Inspector Christian Jesus Huelva believed that the victims died of suffocation while inside the tunnel located in Barangay Panique.

“Kelan lang me ganito ring insidente kung saan kinapos din sa hangin kaya namatay sa loob ng tunnel,” Huelva said, adding that in the same tunnel on July 3, one Rosaldo Cortes, 25, also died due to suffocation..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110710nat3.html

Forecasters eye two cyclones entering W. Luzon, E. Mindanao By Jason Faustino 07/10/2011

Forecasters eye two cyclones entering W. Luzon, E. Mindanao

By Jason Faustino 07/10/2011

State forecasters said that they spotted two potential cyclones forming near western Luzon and eastern Mindanao.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that it can spark flash floods and landslides.

Pagasa said the new low-pressure area (LPA) off Mindanao was estimated at 420 km east of Mindanao as of 8 a.m.

“[The new LPA] might bring widespread rains over eastern Mindanao that may cause flashfloods and landslides,” it said in its 11 a.m. advisory..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110710nat1.html

Soliman reiterates 4Ps not a dole-out project 07/10/2011

Soliman reiterates 4Ps not a dole-out project

07/10/2011
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Juliano-Soliman last Friday vehemently denied that the “Conditional Cash Transfer” (CCT) program under the government’s “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (4Ps) is stimulating the dole-out mentality among marginalized Filipinos.

Soliman, talking at the pre-Sona (State-of-the-Nation Address) Forum aired over the National Broadcasting Network (NBN)-Channel 4 last Friday, said that the CCT was not a dole-out as each beneficiary has corresponding obligations such as attending to pre-natal seminars, complete attendance of their children in school and seeking for job opportunities or having small livelihood business..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110710met5.html

Solon seeking to implement 60-km speed limit in all accident-prone roads By Charlie V. Manalo 07/10/2011

Solon seeking to implement 60-km speed limit in all accident-prone roads

By Charlie V. Manalo 07/10/2011
A lawmaker is seeking the implementation of the 60-kilometer speed limit not only along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, but also in major roads or highways in Metro Manila with high statistics of road accidents to attain the “zero-accident rate” objective.

Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, author of House Bill 4775, said a significant if not dramatic reduction on road accidents has been observed in Commonwealth Avenue when the 60-kilometer speed limit was imposed along the highway.

“This bill aims to preserve this gain or else everything goes to naught,” Castelo said.

Castelo added such an objective or goal should be accompanied by the budgetary resources reasonably necessary to effect the much needed upgrading in capacity and capability of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110710met2.html